A woman murdered and decapitated her neighbour after she changed her mind about investing in her property project, a court was told.

Prosecutors say Jemma Mitchell, 38, killed Mee Kuen Chong, 67, on 11 June last year before driving to some woods in Salcombe, Devon on 26 June to bury her headless body.

It was found by holidaymakers the next day, the Old Bailey heard on Wednesday.

After her corpse was discovered, police found a forged will of Ms Chong’s leaving the bulk of her estate to Mitchell.

Jurors heard from Mitchell’s mother Hilary Collard on Wednesday, who said: “Deborah wanted to put some money into the house for her but decided against it so Jemma was just not talking to her any more.”

Mitchell and Ms Chong, who met through church, had exchanged several messages about renovating Mitchell’s home in Willesden, northwest London, the court was told.

But Ms Chong eventually told her: “There is enough work to be done in the house which you don’t have money for. It’s not logical.

“You have to rid of stuff and live simple life clear all things untouched, unused.”

She told her to forget about her £200,000 investment and the project, which messages revealed Mitchell was hoping would include a “church room with nature tweeting”.

Ms Chong told her the house was worth £4million – and she should sell it instead.

“Sell it enjoy the money life is too short,” one message read.

Victim told defendant not to visit her before she died

On 8 June another message read: “Until you sold house I won’t want you to come to me or my house. I’m stressed to the core.”

Jurors were shown CCTV footage of Mitchell going to Wembley where Ms Chong lived with a large blue suitcase and leaving hours later on 11 June.

Ms Mitchell’s mother, who lives with her, described Ms Chong as “crazy” and “absolutely crackers”.

“She is crazy but she thinks she is going to get married to Prince Charles and she is all the time setting up table settings for Prince Charles and to have dinner parties,” she said.

The court heard Ms Chong suffered from schizophrenia and was being prescribed medication.

Mitchell denies murder. The case continues.

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